Week of December 22

WINTER BREAK IS HERE!  Only 1/2 more day!!!  

THANK  YOU, each and every one of you, for being a part of our famiLEE.  The beginning of this year has not been easy, but you remain positive, steadfast, and ambitious!  There is not a better bunch to be on this journey with and I cannot wait to begin 2015 with YOU!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you may leave on Friday once all of your learners are safely dismissed?  IT'S TRUE!  Please make sure that all pets are taken care of and that your Thanksgiving and Holiday displays are taken down so that we can start the new year showcasing new work.
• that we will have a long term sub joining us when Jamye has the baby?  Her name is Janell Bunt.  She is a former Coppell ISD educator, and she will take good care of Yellow 3 while Jamye is home with sweet Finley Gray.
• that most people do not stick to their New Year's Resolution?  Why not focus on One Word for 2015 instead?  Please take time over the break to reflect on your "One Word."  We will complete an activity with it at our first Staff Meeting when we return.  

“Do what others won’t today, so that you can do what others can’t tomorrow.” – Unknown

CBL PLANNING DAYS
Thank you to all of our houses for tackling your first CBL planning sessions.  We are so thankful for the support from Central Office and support staff on campus.  You all put in some HARD WORK and EFFORT.  Todd and I are excited to see the units you created put into action in the new year.  You will have ONE MORE CBL Planning Day before the 4th 9 weeks.  Please look at your house calendar and get these scheduled.  Wednesdays and Thursdays are days that I will approve for these design days.


FRIDAY
Todd sent our daily schedule out this week.  Please wait to bring your learners down until we call them on the PA system.  Once called down, please strategically sit where you can help monitor them.  We will have morning announcements in the cafeteria.  Please watch Polar Express in the most manageable way for your group (house vs. individually).  If you have Amazon Prime, Netflix, or iTunes, you can stream it through your Apple TV or use the dongle in your house.  We have a site license purchased so that you can legally watch the entire movie at school.  

Please make sure to have your learners promptly ready for dismissal by 12:50.  There is no dismissal bell, so we will need your help.  Once your learners are safely dismissed, please GO HOME.  Start enjoying the break that you have certainly earned!

GOING BONKERS

Our Dad's Club will be hosting a Going Bonkers Night on Monday, December 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Please send this information out to your parents looking for something to entertain their learners over the break.  50% of admission goes back to our school!

SUPER TEACHERS
You have, without question, witnessed incredible lessons at RJL.  Please take time to nominate a person or team for Super Teacher.  This link will give you a place to acknowledge your peers.  Dr. Waldrip will personally award Super Teachers and provide them with lunch.  Let's get Lee designers recognized!!


CLUB 21
When we return from break, we will have a session with Cottonwood Creek educators who are in year 2 of implementation of 1:1 iPads.  Please come prepared with something to contribute to our App Smackdown.  If you are interested in learning more about iPad integration and you are not in 4th or 5th grade, you are more than welcome to join us in the PreK classroom after school on Monday, January 5.  THANK YOU: Cassie, Nicole, Taylor, Katie, Nick, Samira, and Rachel for the FANTASTIC work you are doing on a daily basis with using these devices and for attending extra meetings after school.  


WALK AT SCHOOL WEDNESDAYS
Walk AT School Wednesdays will start the Wednesday we return.  If you choose to participate by walking in the gym, before school, on these Wednesdays, you may wear sweatpants and sneakers with the Spirit Shirt of that day.  For example, on January 7, you can wear your house color shirt with sweatpants (instead of jeans).  We hope to model a healthy lifestyle for our learners!  Thank you, Alicia, for creating our indoor "walking path" during the colder months.  We look forward to warmer weather and utilizing the track later in the year.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Make eye contact. When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times. If someone makes a comment, turn and face that person.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 21- Jamye's Birthday

December 26- Alicia's Birthday
December 27- Elisa's Wedding
December 22-January 4- Winter Break
January- School Board Appreciation Month
January 5- 4/5 Club 21 Collaboration with CCE (3:30 RJL)
January 7- House Shirt Day with Jeans
                  Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                  District Spelling Bee (9:00 CMSW) 
                  Staff Meeting (3:30)
January 9- Nick and Priscilla's Birthdays
January 10- iCreate Shirt Day with Jeans

             Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                    Curriculum Meetings (3:30 Content Specialists' Spaces)
January 15- 3/4 Music Performance (7:00 pm)
                    Jean's Birthday
January 16- End of 2nd 9 Weeks
                    Spirit Assembly (8:00 Gym)

Week of December 15

It is SO GOOD to be "home" and back at school.  I am looking forward to our last week together before the Winter Break.  Hang in there- YOU'VE GOT THIS!  It has been so fun seeing you in your jeans and holiday attire.  One more week of Frozen treats coming your way!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that Peter Reynolds created a new video that is his gift to educators to remind you to follow your instincts and remember why you got into teaching in the first place.  See the potential in every child, nurture those emerging gifts and talents, and change their lives!!!  ENJOY!
• that an alternate schedule will be used on Friday?  Todd will send that out to you.  
• that the Madrigal Choir is going to perform so that your room parents can set up for the party on Thursday.  Join us in the gym at 1:00 for their singing.
• that we have a formative assessment resource, compliments of Debbie Youngs and Diana Saylak?  Diana suggested printing off on card stock and putting on a ring.

 

“A leader succeeds only when they find a way to make people excited and confident in what comes next.”
– Marcus Buckingham

HOUR OF CODE
Please invite me in for your learners to showcase what they learned during their coding time this week.  I would love to see what they have been working on!


MOY MAP TESTING
Please only assess learners on middle of year MAP assessments if they are on RtI or you have a concern about their progress.  THANK YOU!

DISTRICT HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Thank you for going to the Holiday Open House today!  Ashley did and incredible job leading our choir and instrumental ensemble.  Todd was a magnificent impromptu sound mixer!  It is nice to LEAVE SCHOOL and remember the reason for the season! 

YEARBOOK CONTEST
Please send out information this weekend to your families regarding our yearbook contest.  I am sorry this is such short notice, but...I just got word from our PTO about the deadline.  Entries are due in the front office by the END OF THE DAY, Wednesday, December 17.  Misspellings will disqualify entries.  The cover selected will depict the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  Other entries that showcase our school, the building, our logo, etc. will be used for the back cover and title page.  Please make sure learners write their name, grade, and house in pencil on the back.  We will announce the winners at our second Spirit Rally in January. 


THURSDAY
We have more guests coming to perform for learners.  On Thursday, from 1-2, the CHS Madigrals will be coming to perform in the gym so that your parents can set up in your rooms for the party.  (Did I just hear a sigh of relief?)  Yellow learners will be supervised by Specials so you still have your conference time.  What are your thoughts on asking learners to dress to impress for this day?  I will be sporting another sequenced sweater.  :)


FRIDAY
We will start with morning broadcast from the stage, followed by a performance by the Drama Club.  How would you feel about our choir singing after a little brain break?  Then we can send you back to watch Polar Express in each house, complete Polar Express activities, eat lunch, go to recess, and GO HOME!!!  You can leave as soon as your learners are safely dismissed!  


"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” -Dr. Suess

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Use your utensils for eating.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 15- West Winter Band/Choir performs for Lee (1:30-2:00)
                        TOY Recognized at Board Mtg. (6:00)
                        Taylor's Half Birthday

December 16- Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00 p.m.)

December 17- College Shirt Day

                        Yearbook Cover Submissions Due

                        Spur Savings (7:30)

                        Red CBL Planning Day

                        Staff Christmas Party @ Anamias (3:45)

December 18- Latest at Lee Parent Meeting (9:00)

                        Madigrals Play for Lee (1:00)                       

                        Winter Parties (2:00)
                        Rob's Boot Camp (3:30-Gym)

December 19- Ayesha's Birthday
                        Polar Express Day
                        Drama Performance (8:15- Cafe)

                        Early Release Day (12:50)
December 21- Jamye's Birthday
December 26- Alicia's Birthday
December 27- Elisa's Wedding
December 22-January 4- Winter Break
January 5- 4/5 Club 21 Collaboration with CCE (3:30 RJL)
January 7- House Shirt Day with Jeans
                  Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45) Info coming soon!
                  District Spelling Bee (9:00 CMSW) 
                  Staff Meeting (3:30)
January 9- Nick and Priscilla's Birthdays
January 10- Potential Lee Parent University (Info coming soon!)

Week of December 8

I know NONE of you are feeling this way, especially after today's Best Christmas Pageant Ever snaffoo:

It sounds as if you handled everything in the best way possible.  I'm disappointed that our learners missed the performance, but the optimist in me is touched by the way everyone pulled together and made lemonade out of lemons. 

DID YOU KNOW?

• that there are yummy snacks at the CISD Open House?  Make sure you drop in at Admin during your conference time.  
• that Dr. Waldrip does not want you to stop what you are doing when he comes to visit?  He just likes to take a look at what is going on in our school.  Now, if a learner wants to invite him to "join in," well....so be it! :)  If you DO NOT want him to drop by your room, please let Diana know so that she can inform him.
• that you can register your class for Hour of Code by going to this website? Please tweet out using @codeorg  #HourOfCode  #RJLHourOfCode
• that we may be saying farewell to district MAP testing?  Dr. Waldrip, Curriculum Directors, and Principals have been looking at the number of assessments that our learners are taking. We have proposed eliminating this and replacing with iStation.  More information about this will be coming soon. 

TASA VISIT BEFORE BREAK

I cannot express how proud of our school I was when the Superintendents visited RJL.  They were BLOWN AWAY by YOU and YOUR LEARNERS. You did an incredible job of utilizing all of the places in the building and seamlessly integrating technology.  The hugest compliment came from Dr. Turner when he turned to me and said, "Wow!  I am so impressed with how far you all are since my visit in September. You are much further along than I thought you would be."  This may not mean much to you, but he is a man who does not throw out compliments so, to me, this was a HUGE ONE.  Please know that your hard work does not go unnoticed by me or ANY of the visitors that come to our school.  Jaws are dropping and ideas are generated by watching and seeing YOU in action!

LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS
You are doing a FANTASTIC job of holding our learners to the cafeteria expectations we discussed.  THANK YOU!  Thank you to Mrs. Shannon for numbering our tables.


WEDNESDAY FED EX DAY

Please remember that Fed Ex hour is for professional growth.  This hour is not to complete a task that is on your designer plate, I'm sorry.  Please do not disturb others who are working on individual goals.  ​

• ​Fed Ex IS:  technology training with Alli, a book study, learning about something new like the Comprehension Toolkit from KK

• ​Fed Ex IS NOT: grading, lesson designing, completing Information Literacy, watching Bloodborne Pathogen video, writing your professional goals

Please ask me if you are unsure.  Your post on Today's Meet is your accountability to each other and administration.  I will go through Wednesday night and grant credit to those who posted after 4:30 but before 5:00.  

TOY DRIVE AT LEE
4th graders will be hosting a CBL toy drive from December 8 - December 19 at our school.  This is to go along with their Global Read Aloud book study of One for the Murphys.  Please post in your newsletters that they will be asking for new, unwrapped toys during these days.

FROZEN DAYS OF GIVING
Just a reminder how about much we love you!!  Don't forget to wear your jeans and holiday attire the next two weeks.  Clever Frozen themed treats will be in the lounge daily.  Please thank Diana and Veronica for helping me with the organization and set up of these!  

CBL PLANNING DAYS
Hours for you on these days are from 7:30 - 3:30 in the Pre K room.  Dress is casual.  Please bring your resources and be in there on time so that Curriculum Directors, support staff, Todd, and I can support you.   Plan to order in lunch that day for your group.

HOUSE DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Please work as a group to update these a minimum of once a month.  When you have new projects, learning, etc. to display on these, please send them to James and tell him which TV to run it on. (until we are trained otherwise).   These should be turned on every morning and turned off every afternoon. I appreciate your help.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Growth only occurs when you successfully adapt to change.”
-Summer Jeirles (timely for all of us this year and TODAY)

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness. Go out of your way to do something surprisingly kind and generous for someone. (perfect timing for our 4th grade CBL)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 8-14- Hour of Code Week 

December 8- Frozen Days of Giving Begin 

                      Signed Progress Reports Due back to School

                      CK at Learning Forward Conference
December 9- Lee Campus Spelling Bee (3:15 Library Flex Space)
                      NO PTO Mtg.

                      CK at Learning Forward Conference
December 10- Red and Black Attack shirt with Jeans
                        Fed Ex Day

                        CK at Learning Forward Conference

                        Dr. Waldrip visits Lee @ 10:30
December 11- Todd's Birthday
                        Yellow CBL Planning Day
                        PTO Holiday Luncheon for staff
                        Channel 11 News films 2nd Grade (10:00)
                        Elisa's Bridal Shower (3:30)

                        Instrumental Ensemble Performance (6:30)
December 12- CISD Holiday Open House (Conference Time)
                        Possible Drama Club Performance (8:15)
                        Lee Performs at Holiday Open House (10:15)

December 15- West Winter Band/Choir performs for Lee (1:30-2:00)

December 16- Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00 p.m.)

December 17- College Shirt Day

                        Spur Savings (7:30)

                        Red CBL Planning Day

                        Staff Christmas Party @ Anamias (3:45)

December 18- Latest at Lee Parent Meeting (9:00)

                        Winter Parties (2:00)

December 19- Polar Express Day

                        Early Release Day (12:50)

Hallelujah! Let it Go!

Thank you for letting Todd and I interrupt your learning this afternoon to share that the office will celebrate YOU the next two weeks.

Our hope is that the gift of time allowed you to "let something go."  We know it evoked a "Hallelujah" from quite a few of you.

Please take a moment to enjoy this beautiful song and video!